mounting strip lighting?

[cpd520]

I have seen many MH's with strip lighting mounted under them. I want to do this for ambient light in camp and as rodent deterrent while coach is parked.

My question is how are those with this type of lighting mounting them securely enough to travel down the road without issue?

What type of clips/adhesive did you use?

[kab449]

If you are a member at Costco, they have an LED rope light for sale. It is about 20' long and is totally sealed. The last two RV's I have had, I zip tie it to the undercarriage using any attachment point I can find. Propane lines, skirting after drilling a small hole in it, etc. I then buy a cheap extension cord, cut the male plug end off, push the wire through an exact sized and drilled hole through a basement storage compartment that has a receptacle in it. Install a repair male plug on the cord and power the rope light. Most times I just let it plugged in as it only powers up when I am plugged in or genny running.
It is not bothered by the elements and draws around 15 amps.
Can't tell you if it keeps the pack rats away.

[Disneyfix]

DaveKirby wrote:
I haven't mounted lights under my rig, but recently used two sided 3M tape to attach a 16 foot of L E D strip lighting to the roller of my awning. Works well

How did you get power to the lights? Are the under the rolled out awning or on the cover when awning is rolled up? Thanks.

[DaveKirby]

I haven't mounted lights under my rig, but recently used two sided 3M tape to attach a 16 foot of L E D strip lighting to the roller of my awning. Works well

[smlranger]

cpd520 wrote:

JimM68 wrote:
They make LED "strip lights" that are sealed and waterproof, typically in 5 meter spools.
They can be cut, soldered, and spliced (not sure how you'd maintain waterproof)

You can find em on ebay, not expensive.

Hard part would be finding someplace under the coach that is flat and smooth enuf to stick them on.

thanks, I have already bought the lights you are talking about, along with a timer and dimer switch.

I have seen what appear to be permanently mounted undercarriage strip lights at parks. I was hoping someone that had done an install would see this post at weigh in.

I'm getting ready to install some waterproof strip LED's under the patio side of my coach. I plan to install them just as I did under my golf car. I used the good 3M auto trim tape and put a cable tie about every 3 feet for good measure. They have been on my golf car for 5 years now and I drive it all around my lake home in all kinds of weather.

[cpd520]

JimM68 wrote:
They make LED "strip lights" that are sealed and waterproof, typically in 5 meter spools.
They can be cut, soldered, and spliced (not sure how you'd maintain waterproof)

You can find em on ebay, not expensive.

Hard part would be finding someplace under the coach that is flat and smooth enuf to stick them on.

thanks, I have already bought the lights you are talking about, along with a timer and dimer switch.

I have seen what appear to be permanently mounted undercarriage strip lights at parks. I was hoping someone that had done an install would see this post at weigh in.

[slemnah]

I was thinking about attaching some roap lighting to the outer edge of the basement frame underneath my motorhome and run a switch into one of the basement storage plugs. Has anyone done that?
Steve

[JimM68]

They make LED "strip lights" that are sealed and waterproof, typically in 5 meter spools.
They can be cut, soldered, and spliced (not sure how you'd maintain waterproof)

You can find em on ebay, not expensive.

Hard part would be finding someplace under the coach that is flat and smooth enuf to stick them on.

[cpd520]

jerseyjim wrote:

Lights to keep rodents away? Never heard of that....interesting, tho.

Do a google search. There are those that espouse lights. Kind of makes sense. Not trying to keep pack rats from foraging. They will check out their environment. Just from nesting in my undercarriage. They are a nocturnal animal and it seems reasonable to nest in dark areas. I have never found a nest in a lit area.

Don't know what else to do. I have totally cleared our 2 acre lot and removed all brush, nests and clutter. Still have had 2 start nesting in the motorhome in the last few months.

[wny_pat1]

You want to keep the mice and rats away? Use peppermint oil. Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and put them in pill bottles with holes drilled in the bottles. I put a couple in every compartment and under the kitchen sink, bathroom sink and behind a couple cabinets which I accessed by removing a drawer. All the places that I had found droppings in previous years. This was the first year we did not have any rodent traces at all! Plus the coach has a very nice minty smell!

[jerseyjim]

Lighting on the bottom (chassis) of a motorhome....I would think you'd be replacing the bulbs quite often. Lots of debris flying around under there at 60 mph..

Lights to keep rodents away? Never heard of that....interesting, tho.

The only lights that annoy me are the large round white lights on some 5th wheels that don't get turned off all nite. Never could figure that out....I mean a cg or RV park is not NYC or Philly...why do they do that?

[cpd520]

Executive wrote:
Using strip lighting as a rodent deterrent is an old wives tale.

Looking for any solution to the pack rat problem. we live in a very rural area with dense, unkempt property on all sides. In 6 months I have had pack rats start nests twice on my new to me motorhome. My research recommended lighting as one prong in the attack on pack rat problems. If you have info that debunks that I am interested. Also interested in any input on preventing pack rat damage.

Executive wrote:
Ambient light is nice to have in the campground, but only while you're UP...:W...flashing lights, spot lights, scare lights etc are a irritant and a bore to many other campers, especially if left on all night.

One of the down sides to this site. I posted in Projects and Upgrades looking for an answer to a specific question/problem. Didn't need an education on light etiquette. Never have and never would subject my neighbors to unreasonable light pollution. Guess the info is there for those who might need it.

Executive wrote:
That said, I have a series of LED lights under my step that I leave on if we are on a walk. I used two sided tape and some zip ties to hold them in place. I've never had them drop off. Keep in mind that any lights secured to the bottom of the coach are going to be subjected to some pretty harsh conditions. Plan on replacing many of them each year depending on the use of the coach....Dennis

Wasn't sure how people do it, just seems that some people have made it work. Hopefully one of them will post how they did it.

[Executive45]

Using strip lighting as a rodent deterrent is an old wives tale. Ambient light is nice to have in the campground, but only while you're UP...:W...flashing lights, spot lights, scare lights etc are a irritant and a bore to many other campers, especially if left on all night.

That said, I have a series of LED lights under my step that I leave on if we are on a walk. I used two sided tape and some zip ties to hold them in place. I've never had them drop off. Keep in mind that any lights secured to the bottom of the coach are going to be subjected to some pretty harsh conditions. Plan on replacing many of them each year depending on the use of the coach....Dennis